Politics and sex scandals are not a good mix. Many politicians have stumbled and fallen over a secret affair. But when are these scandals of public interest - and when is reporting them just gossip?

And (about 30 minutes into the program): Romance novels can change the world – maybe even better than other literature because due to a shorter publishing processes it can react quicker to political and cultural shifts.

We live in a democracy in which we all have a chance to vote.

But does voting mean that the views of the majority are truly represented when it can be shown - mathematically - that all voting systems have flaws? 

Maths proves that elections can never be truly fair and how easy it is for someone to win who no one really liked and who no one wanted to come first. Be it in elections or the Eurovision Song Contest.

Advances in genomics were predicted to lead to a new era of personalised medicine, by utilising individual genetic information. Genomics is currently being employed to improve diagnosis of difficult to diagnose conditions. But will it realise its full potential? What are the ethical quandaries?

In a complex and challenging world, how durable is the international role of the US?

While there were many setbacks between the fall of Soviet communism and the opening years of the Trump administration, from Rwanda to 9/11 and Iraq to Syria, Tim Lynch demonstrates that the US remained the world's dominant power.

Recent US foreign politics hasn't changed that much compared to the Cold War era.

Would music created by robots move you just the same as a piece composed by your favourite song writer?

Machines are already making art - paintings and songs.

But does this music have the same quality as works created by humans?

The main threat of antisemitism is its use as a conspiracy theory to undermine democracy, says Deborah Lipstadt.

She traces the origin of antisemitism and defines a template that’s been used by both the political right and left - even today.

Could it be that the adversarial criminal justice system is hindering efforts to combat domestic violence?

Surveys about people’s fears commonly feature public speaking at the very top of the list.

Many of you believe that public speaking is something you have a natural affinity to do – or not.

But it's a skill you can learn and practice like any other.

Even better: There are some basic tips – easily applied – that can make an average talk a memorable and impactful speech. You only have to know them.

Nobel laureate Paul Krugman explains some of the most vital economic policy issues of our time.

Private health insurance; accepting budget deficits – or not; putting tariffs on foreign trade. What makes economic sense and what’s fiscal myth?

And he assesses some economic policies put forward in this US presidential election. Economy might decide the winner of this election and the outcome will reverberate across the world.

Managing waste starts with avoiding waste by repairing products. But often manufacturers’ ‘Technological Protection Measures’ prevent repair.

How can we encourage repair rather than simply the throwing out broken objects and devices?